~Chapter 7~
She had a dream.
Bellona watched from a distance as the original story’s heroine and hero—no, her two dearest friends—talked happily together.
Bellona, Aidan, and Davienne had always been together.
Since the three of them were childhood friends centered around the heroine Davienne in the original setting, even after countless regressions, their bond never completely reset.
Davienne, laughing brightly at something Aidan said, noticed Bellona first and waved.
“Bellona! Why are you standing there all alone?”
“I just… thought you two looked good together.”
Which lifetime was this memory from?
Or maybe it wasn’t a memory at all—just something her subconscious created.
“Davienne’s been waiting for you, Bellona. You’re late today.”
He sounded a little grumpy, yet he still pulled out a chair for her like a perfect gentleman.
Bellona chuckled faintly at Aidan’s prickly attitude.
“I didn’t want to interrupt your cozy time together.”
“If you knew that, you could’ve just not come.”
“Aidan! Don’t say that. Today’s the day we planned a tea time for the three of us.”
Even if Bellona didn’t remember it, if dream-Davienne said so, then that’s what it was.
Bellona shrugged. “You’re extra touchy today.”
“Like I could win against someone anyway.”
Bellona was always unbeatable when it came to stubbornness, and she was fully ready to accept his challenge—but dream-Aidan just sighed lightly, shook his head, and turned his attention back to Davienne.
“Davienne, should I ask them to bring new tea?”
“It’s fine. Here, try this. I baked these cookies myself. Are you really not going to eat one?”
“You know I don’t like sweet stuff.”
“I made them less sweet. Just taste one.”
Of course the official male lead disliked sweets.
Even while frowning at the sugary smell, he still couldn’t refuse Davienne’s offer.
And the way he gently brushed crumbs from the corners of Davienne’s mouth—already having eaten several cookies—was endlessly warm. His eyes were full of affection.
Watching Aidan, who loved Davienne more than anyone, a sad smile formed on Bellona’s lips.
It was hard not to rely on these kind, gentle people.
Even when she told herself to keep a distance, the countless memories they shared over so many lifetimes didn’t just disappear.
“…Davienne, Aidan. I have something to confess.”
“What is it?”
Davienne flicked her golden hair and smiled radiantly, blinking her blue eyes as if telling her to speak freely.
“I made a choice… one you two would definitely try to stop me from making. It might even hurt you. You might dislike me for it, or even blame me.”
In reality, each time she regressed, Davienne and Aidan forgot everything again.
There were many lives where Bellona isolated herself so much that they eventually grew apart.
So she didn’t know why she was suddenly sitting here, pouring her heart out in front of them.
“…Is it a choice for your sake?”
“Huh?”
Bellona looked up at Davienne, who was still smiling gently at her.
“Whatever it is, if it makes you happy, then I understand.”
There was a time, long ago, when Bellona was completely exhausted by regression and grabbed Davienne right after returning—telling her everything while crying like a child.
Even then, Davienne told her kindly:
She couldn’t control Bellona’s countless future lives, but she would always, forever, be her friend.
“…You’re too good for me.”
Even knowing it was all just a dream—her own creation—Bellona cried heartbreakingly.
Because even the brilliant friendship she once shared with them had faded in reality, leaving her numb and empty.
—
When Bellona woke up, she found herself lying on a soft bed. She blinked slowly, still lost in thought.
“Yesterday, I was talking with Deminic…”
Eventually she left him alone to “do whatever he wanted,” and went back to reading her book.
She intended to pull an all-nighter just like him, both of them keeping watch on each other.
But since it was the day of her regression and she had been busy all day, she must have dozed off before she realized it.
And now, when she opened her eyes, she saw Deminic—who had looked awful last night—sitting perfectly fine in a chair by the window, somehow wearing a clean black shirt he had found from somewhere.
“You…”
Elbow propped on the armrest, he lazily flipped through her book without permission. Hearing her voice, he lifted his head, their eyes meeting directly.
Instead of saying good morning, he tilted his head and asked something completely random.
“Who’s Davienne?”
Hearing Davienne’s name come out of his mouth startled Bellona enough to momentarily stop breathing.
A chill ran down her spine.
After a long moment, she finally managed to respond.
“…What did you say?”
“That name you muttered in your sleep. Along with Aidan Saton’s name. Davienne.”
She must have talked in her sleep.
Her voice came out hoarse, and when she sat up, her head throbbed.
When she wiped her cheek, there were dried tear tracks.
Great. Amazing. Truly impressive.
She cried even in real life, not just the dream.
She thought she had grown numb, but apparently not.
Bellona ignored his question for now and focused on something she wanted to know first.
“Did you go outside? If you could go out, why did you come back?”
Without answering, Deminic rose from the chair in a single smooth motion and walked to her bedside.
He leaned one arm on the headboard and slowly lowered himself toward her, studying her face.
Then he reached out and brushed her cheek.
“So you’re close enough friends to dream about them?”
“…Yeah.”
Bellona pulled away from his touch.
Then she suddenly remembered—she had been sitting in the chair before she fell asleep.
She definitely hadn’t walked to the bed on her own.
Which meant Deminic had carried her.
How uncharacteristically considerate.
“Aidan and Davienne are both my friends. We probably just had a fun conversation in the dream.”
Pushing him away, Bellona got out of bed and stood up. She poured herself water from the pitcher to clear her voice.
“Davienne must be… someone special, then.”
Right.
He noticed immediately that she didn’t want to talk about Davienne, so of course he assumed she had some special trait.
Ugh. I should’ve never joked about knowing who the saint would be…
She had walked straight into her own trap. Bellona decided to play dumb.
“Even if she does, it doesn’t matter to you. Actually—don’t think about it.”
“Stop reacting like a cornered cat. I’m not going to pry.”
Still leaning casually against the headboard, he raised both hands like he was surrendering.
Then, meeting her eyes, he shrugged lightly.
“I don’t want to bother you unnecessarily.”
He really sounded like someone trying to soothe a sulking cat.
Bellona glared at him and deliberately replied to his earlier comment.
“…You’re the one who broke into my room like a stray cat.”
Deminic’s lips curved into a small smile, pleased she was playing along.
“Well, you can’t deny that. But I’m a charming cat, aren’t I?”
“I should just stop talking to you.”
Bellona rolled her eyes mid-sip, sighing internally.
At least he wasn’t pushing harder about Davienne. That was a relief.
But before she could change the subject, someone knocked on the door.
“Milady, are you awake?”
Bellona froze.
Deminic moved instantly—far too quickly for someone who had been injured yesterday—slipping to the door with sharp reflexes.
Who is it?
My maid, probably.
They whispered barely above a breath as Bellona walked slowly toward the door.
Deminic stood so close his quiet breathing brushed against her ear.
“Rose, I’m not feeling well. Could you leave breakfast by the door? I want to rest a little more.”
“Milady, are you very sick? Let me just take a quick look. If it’s serious, we should call a healer or a priest.”
Sweet, loyal Rose.
Of course she’d insist on checking her.
If only she’d happily leave the tray and go…
I should open the door and show my face.
Don’t.
As Bellona reached for the doorknob, a large, warm hand covered hers and stopped her.
She frowned and looked up at Deminic.
His calm eyes held a feeling she couldn’t clearly read.
